Pustules are circumscribed collections of white blood cells and serous fluid. Many skin lesions will present with papules or vesicles (clear fluid); those presenting with pustules occur less frequently. It is important to recognize the morphological pattern of pustules because it may imply a different spectrum of differential diagnosis as well as treatment.

While the differential diagnosis of pustules is broad (table 1), most diagnoses seen by primary care physicians will fit one of the diseases below. Several defining features can aid in narrowing down the possibilities in an efficient manner:

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